Libya's Decisive Battle Looms As Gaddafi Troops Head East -- The Guardian
Frontline moves close to key stronghold as loyalist troops gather in Sirte, Gaddafi's home town, to repel the rebel advance
Libya's army is pouring reinforcements into Muammar Gaddafi's strategic hometown of Sirte against rebels advancing from the east under cover of UN-mandated air strikes.
Units of regular soldiers in jeeps mounted with heavy machine guns were driving towards the town on Monday as the frontline moved ominously closer to a key regime stronghold for what could turn out to be the decisive battle of the war.
Read more ....
MIDDLE EAST
Abbas would give up US aid for Palestinian unity.
Vote ban angers Saudi women in era of change.
Tiny Qatar flexes muscles in no-fly Libya campaign.
Iranian video says Mahdi is 'near'.
Israel deploys new anti-missile system.
Brutal crackdowns chill the 'Arab Spring'.
Desperate Assad tries to blunt uprising with new promises of reform. Syria’s President Assad deploys army. Syrian forces fire to disperse Deraa protest. Eyewitness: Gunfire, tear gas in Syrian city.
Unrest in Syria, Jordan poses new test for U.S. policy.
Dozens killed in Yemen explosion. Blast at Yemen explosives factory kills 78.
Yemeni president sacks defected military commander.
ASIA
Plutonium detected in soil at Japan nuclear plant. Highly radioactive water leaks outside Japan's nuclear plant building. Japan Nuclear Crisis: reactors have damaged fuel rods. Radiation levels at Japan nuclear plant reach new highs.
India and Pakistan hoping for diplomatic truce over cricket.
Taliban truck explosion kills 23 in Afghanistan.
Kim Jong-il 'dreamed of being stoned'.
Hillary Clinton hints at strained US ties with Pakistan.
Peking University to screen students for 'radical thoughts'.
AFRICA
U.S. intelligence sees doubts among Gadhafi's advisers, official says. Libya: rebels run into stiff Gaddafi defences in Sirte.
Libya rebels advance, Russia criticizes airstrikes. Libyan rebels close on key Gadhafi stronghold. Libya raids hit Gaddafi hometown. Libyan rebel advance halted, Sirte blasted by NATO jets. No UN mandate to attack Gaddafi forces: Russia. Rebels advance on eve of Libya crisis talks.
Woman at centre of rape claims offered money to recant, says mother. Libyan woman who alleged rape remains hidden from world.
Somalia government extends its mandate.
Central African Republic chooses new parliament.
Egypt parliamentary polls set for September: army. Egypt plans September ballot, shortens curfew.
Egyptian military says Mubarak under house arrest.
Heavy fighting erupts in Key Ivory Coast town. Major fighting in western Ivory Coast.
India Navy nabs 16 pirates, rescues 16 hostages. Pirates nabbed, hostages freed after three-hour battle.
EUROPE
Holidaymakers face Easter chaos as BA cabin crew vote for fresh strikes.
Italians block port in protest over migrants.
EU to ban cars from cities by 2050.
Merkel's party set to lose power in German state.
French Socialists and National Front winners in local elections.
Italy PM Berlusconi in first trial showing since 2003.
Italy migrant influx intensifies on Lampedusa island.
AMERICAS
Carter visits Cuba amid dispute over contractor.
Colombian military kills 15 rebels, president says.
The U.S. debt crisis: Can Congress reach a solution?
Israel questions Argentina over Buenos Aires attacks.
Anti-this, pro-that ... all convene at the White House.
Canadian election campaign kicks off.
Dispatches from the war on drugs (commentary).
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Taliban create Lashkar-e-Khorasan to hunt Predator spies.
Poland wants Guantanamo detainees questioned.
India and Pakistan discuss anti-terrorism measures.
Libyan rebels' ragtag army has al Qaeda links though lacks basic training.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Apple's iPad 2 in short supply in UK.
Fiscal showdown looms in U.S. capitol.
China's new economic power fans fear, BBC poll finds.
Nissan sees output recovery within weeks.
Wal-Mart sex-bias case could have wide impact.
Gold replacing dollar as world’s reserve currency?